Rotator Cuff Injuries

Your shoulders are some of the most flexible and most used joints in the body. Think about how often you lift your arms to carry out daily tasks – all the way down to brushing your teeth. As they are so involved in your daily life, it can be easy to ignore just how often they are used – until they are injured. Shoulder injuries are very common, but one of the most frequent is a rotator cuff injury. In this guide, we’ll discuss this injury and how our team at Lower Cape Chiropractic in Orleans can help.

What Is the Rotator Cuff and How Does It Get Injured?

Your upper arm fits directly into the shoulder socket, which allows your arm to move. However, something has to keep the bone in the socket. This is the job of the rotator cuff. It’s made up of tendons and muscles that hold the arm bone in place.

These muscles and tendons often get injured due to overuse. Most often, it’s a sports injury that occurs due to repeatedly throwing a ball, swinging a tennis racket or bat, and swimming. However, you can also develop it through jobs like painting, repetitive lifting, or washing windows. Some people also injure their rotator cuff when they fall or have some other type of accident.

Symptoms of a Rotator Cuff Injury

There are a few symptoms to keep an eye out for that should prompt seeking attention immediately. These include:

    • Arm weakness

    • Difficulty raising your arm over your head

    • Chronic, dull ache at the back of your shoulder

    • Restricted range of motion

Athletes who have torn their rotator cuff have a very difficult time training and performing, which leads them to seek sports injury treatment immediately. Those who aren’t athletes might not notice symptoms until they try to carry out a specific task, like trying to reach something on a high shelf.

How Chiropractic Care Helps

No matter if you need sports injury treatment or treatment just to get through the day, a chiropractor can help. Extremity adjustments help restore balance and alignment. Soft tissue therapy, such as massage and cold laser therapy, can reduce inflammation and pain while stimulating healing. And targeted movements and stretches can help relieve pain and discomfort while rebuilding the injured tissues.

Seek Rotator Cuff Treatment in Orleans, MA

If a rotator cuff injury is interfering with your life in any way, let our team at Lower Cape Chiropractic help. Call (508) 255-5866 to schedule your appointment today.